The tubulogenic activity associated with an activated form of Flt-1 kinaseis dependent on focal adhesion kinase

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is known to be located at the intersection betw een extracellular matrix and growth factor signaling pathways to regulate c ell motility. We have shown previously that an activated form (BCR-FLTm1) o f Flt-1 kinase, a receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor, had a tu bulogenic activity not only in endothelial cells but also in fibroblastic c ells. Here we show that tubulogenesis by BCR-FLTm1 depends on FAK and that FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and association with an activated Flt-1 recept or complex is increased after vascular endothelial growth factor stimulatio n of NIH3T3 cells overexpressing Flt-1. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.